They stood on the rooftop at sunset, the wind cool and calm. Dave looked out at the horizon and slowly nodded.
"Yeah," he said. "My time is up. Just an hour left, maybe a little more. But if I push it, I risk killing the guy whose body I've taken over."
Peter stepped back slightly, brows furrowing. "Wait... so this body—?"
"Will go back to as it was before," Dave confirmed. "But this person is compatible with magic. So, I'm leaving a piece of myself behind. My spells, my knowledge—it'll stay with him. I may be gone, but he'll have the power to learn... to grow."
He raised a worn, leather-bound book in his hands, glowing faintly with golden runes. "This contains the essence of my magic. I'm leaving it with him. I won't know him well... but I think he'll turn out to be something special."
He turned to Peter with a small, warm smile. "Take care of him. He'll be a good partner for your team."
White Tiger stepped forward and hugged him. "We'll miss you, Dave."
Power Man and Iron Fist followed, clapping him on the back, nodding solemnly. "You did good, man," Iron Fist said.
"Okay then... see ya," Dave said with a smirk.
As the final glow of magic shimmered around him, Peter asked, "Wait—you said you have an hour, right?"
"Yeah," Dave said. "But better fast than sorry."
And with that, Dave's body went still.
Then suddenly, the original Dave—the real one—stirred. His eyes fluttered open, confused.
"W-what? Where... where am I? Who are you people?" he asked, sitting up, dazed and alarmed.
The Spider-Man team looked at each other, then back at him.
"I guess... he left," Peter said softly.
He crouched beside the now-clueless Dave and smiled. "You, sir, have magic. And we're here to recruit you."
Dave blinked at him, still processing. "I have what?"
Peter grinned wider. "Magic. And a pretty epic origin story."
Back in his original world, Dave opened his eyes as he cracked his neck. As his body regained order, the Darkhold fell to the ground with a thud.
"Haah, that was fun," he muttered with a slight smile, putting the Darkhold into his inventory. Calm once more, he took a deep breath as he looked outside.
"Oh, you're awake?" Diana said, noticing Dave as he was just reading when she entered the room.
"Hah, what did I miss?" Dave asked, glancing up at her.
"Nothing much, except... what were you doing anyway?" she asked, coming over to him and kissing him on the cheek.
"Hmm," Dave mumbled as he recounted everything he did without her or others, rubbing his head as he thought back on his day. "You sure were having fun without us," Diana said playfully, giving him a playful punch in the chest.
"Do you want to go with me next time?" she asked with a smile. "Let's call it a picnic, and call others too" she added, heading toward the door.
"Okay, then. I'll be waiting," he replied as she started to leave.
As Diana stepped out of the room, Dave leaned back in his chair, staring out the window. The world outside seemed quiet, almost too still, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Diana had always known how to pull him out of his head and into the moment. He smiled to himself, the thought of their next adventure bringing a spark of excitement.
A few moments later, Diana reappeared, a wide grin on her face. "Ready?" she asked, holding up a small bag filled with snacks.
Dave stood up, stretching. "Always."
They walked out into the cool air, the sun dipping lower in the sky. It was the perfect time for a picnic, just the two of them. And as they made their way to the nearby hill, Dave felt like for once, everything was right.
"So," Diana said, nudging him playfully, "this time, no dark magic, right?"
Dave chuckled. "No promises."
She rolled her eyes but laughed. "Well, just make sure we don't get interrupted again. I swear, every time we try to relax, something happens."
They reached the hilltop and laid out the blanket. Dave watched her settle next to him, her eyes lighting up as she pulled out the food. For a moment, it was just them—no battles, no chaos, just a peaceful, simple moment.
"Where are the others?" Dave asked as he relaxed, making Diana's lap his pillow while she caressed his head.
"They're on the way," she replied.
After about half an hour, everyone arrived—Trish, Emma, and Boa, each holding something in their hands.
"A picnic isn't enough with just that much food," Boa said, grinning as she held her snack. She moved closer to Dave, gently picking up his head and placing it on her lap. Dave just chuckled, enjoying the moment, as everyone began to playfully argue and tease each other.
Trish and Emma, unlike Diana and Boa, sat nearby, offering him some food as they playfully fed him. Their teasing was lighthearted, filled with contentment and laughter.
The other passersby seemed to take notice, some even stopping to snap pictures, seeing Dave surrounded by four beautiful women.
As the laughter filled the air, the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow across the horizon. The moment felt almost surreal—peaceful, carefree, as if time had slowed down just for them.
Dave sat up slightly, looking at the group. "This is nice," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "I forgot what it felt like to just... be."
Diana smiled softly, brushing a lock of hair from her face. "We all need moments , Dave. Even you."
Boa leaned back, folding her arms behind her head as she looked up at the sky. "Not everything has to be a battle, you know," she teased. "Sometimes, it's okay to just... chill."
Emma nudged Trish, then looked at Dave with a smirk. "If you keep acting all serious, you're going to ruin the vibe," she said with a wink.
Dave chuckled, shaking his head. "I didn't mean to," he replied. "I'm just... I don't know. Grateful, I guess."
The group fell into a comfortable silence for a few moments, the only sound being the gentle breeze rustling the leaves. Dave felt a sense of contentment he hadn't known in a long time. Even though his life had always been full of chaos and uncertainty, moments like these reminded him that there was still beauty in the quiet moments.
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